It’s back and better than ever.

The Ishpeming Ski Club is prepping for the longest-running, consecutive ski jumping tournament in the country next month.

The Ishpeming Ski Club Ski Jumping Tournament held at the UP Nordic Ski Complex will be held from Jan. 19-21.

“The tournament is on a weekend date once again and it’s going to be even bigger and better than last year,” Ishpeming Ski Club Vice President Peter Copenhaver said in an email. “It’s a winter event you will not want to miss.”

The weekend kicks off Friday evening with the 137th annual Ishpeming Ski Club Ski Jumping Tournament/USA Nordic U.S. Cup event on the famous Suicide Hill.

Attendees can watch elite U.S. ski jumpers soar high through the air by the huge bonfire, beer tent, food trucks or concessions.

The first round of ski jumping begins at 7 p.m.

Continuing the weekend is the Paul Bietila Memorial Ski Jumping Tournament, where skiers compete in big-hill ski jumping.

“The skiers will be excited to have a second chance to show the crowd how far they can fly,” the press release said. “The evenings competition will end with an exciting target jump where the athletes will compete for distance and accuracy.”

Fireworks will conclude the ski jumping competition on Saturday evening. The first round of ski jumping Saturday begins at 7 p.m.

Wrapping up the weekend is the Central Division, Junior Ski Jumping Tournament. On Sunday, the ISC will host the junior ski jumping tournament where young skiers from throughout the Central Division to compete to see who will stand on top of the podium.

This year’s junior tournament is a Junior National Qualifier for the USA Nordic Junior Championships in Alaska and will begin at 11 a.m.

New this year are online ticket sales, which can be found at ishskiclub.com. Tickers are $15 per person when purchased in advance and $20 at the gate.

Ages 12 and younger are free.

We are very glad to see an event that has been around for over 130 years has somehow grown in scope and popularity in recent years. After all, if you’ve never attended the ski jumps, can you even really call yourself a Yooper?

Ishpeming Ski Club booster buttons for the event will also be available for purchase at the following outlets:

≤ Ishpeming: West End Ski & Trail, Wilderness Sports, US Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame, Elaine’s Place, Jasper Ridge Brewery, Jubilee Foods, Congress Pizzas and Buck’s Restaurant.

≤ Negaunee: Super One Foods, Midtown Bakery, Kassel’s Midway and Midway Rentals and Sales.

≤ Marquette: Sports Rack, Downwind Sports, Blackrocks Brewery, Ore Dock Brewery, Kognisjon Bryggeri and Queen City Running Company.

For more information visit ishskiclub.com.